(Ed. Note: For the complete Cape Elizabeth-Yarmouth game story, with additional photos and a box score, see theforecaster.net)

There was no shortage of drama or surprise in Week 6 of the high school football season.

Cape Elizabeth went to Yarmouth and appeared en route to an easy win, but let a 22-point lead slip away. Then, when all appeared lost, the Capers embarked on a last-second drive and won on a field goal at the horn, 31-28.

Scarborough, meanwhile, made it two in a row by producing a most impressive 25-7 victory at South Portland. While the game lacked the jawdropping thrills of last year’s double overtime epic, the Red Storm did what it took to propel themselves back into the playoff picture.

Had ’em all the way

Last year, Cape Elizabeth lost its first ever meeting with Yarmouth, falling at home, 27-7, but in a rematch in the Western C quarterfinals, the Capers returned the favor at the Clippers, 27-14.

Friday, Cape Elizabeth returned to Yarmouth and appeared as though it would easily again, but this time, the game came down to the wire.

First quarter touchdown runs from Devon Stanford and Jack Drinan gave the Capers the jump and when Drinan scored a second touchdown in the second period, Cape Elizabeth had a seemingly safe 21-0 lead.

After the Clippers got on the board with a kickoff return for a score, the Capers appeared to ice their victory when Nate Weare rumbled 38 yards for a score on the first play of the final stanza.

But back came Yarmouth with three straight touchdowns to tie the score, 28-28. The Clippers even had a chance to go ahead, but Cape Elizabeth held and the Capers got the ball at their 14 with 32 seconds remaining.

Overtime appeared a certainty.

Guess again.

After Weare ran for 11 yards, quarterback Jeb Boechenstein hit Ben Ekedahl for 29-yards, then again for 27 more and with 1.4 seconds to go, Ekedahl took the field to attempt a winning field goal. The 36-yard bid fluttered over the crossbar as the final horn sounded and Cape Elizabeth had survived in an epic, 31-28.

“Coach said kick it and I was confident,” Ekedahl said. “I make them in practice. I work on them every day. I knew I hit it well. I was trying to angle it a little bit. It went in, luckily.”

“We had confidence he could make it,” Boechenstein said. “We all believed at the end and we came through and got the win. We didn’t want to go to OT.”

“We did escape,” added Cape Elizabeth coach Aaron Filieo, who was more fiery than normal Friday night. “We won and we’ll embrace it.”

The Capers (4-2 and fourth in the Western Class C Crabtree Points standings) return home Friday to battle Gray-New Gloucester (0-6). Last year, Cape Elizabeth won at Gray, 57-14. The Capers close the regular season at Mountain Valley Oct. 24.

Surprising Storm

Last Oct. 11, Scarborough beat visiting South Portland in a double-overtime epic for the ages, 58-57. Friday, the Red Riots hoped to get some revenge when they welcomed the Red Storm, but it wasn’t to be as Scarborough continued its recent surge.

South Portland got the jump on Matthew Stearns’ touchdown run on the game’s first series, but the Red Storm weren’t daunted and scored twice on touchdown passes for a 13-7 lead after one period. Scarborough’s defense held the Red Riots out of the end zone the rest of the way and two fourth quarter touchdowns allowed the Red Storm to pull away for a 25-7 victory, which lifted their record to 2-4 and dropped South Portland to 4-2.

Scarborough (now sixth in Western A) has its home finale versus 1-5 Massabesic Friday. Last year, the Red Storm handled the Mustangs in Waterboro, 50-21. Scarborough finishes at Noble Oct. 24.

South Portland (third in Western A) visits 3-3 Biddeford Friday. Last year, the Red Riots beat the visiting Tigers, 55-24. South Portland closes at home Oct. 25 in the annual “Battle of the Bridge” versus Portland.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Sidebar Elements

---

Cape Elizabeth quarterback Jeb Boechenstein drops back to throw during last Friday’s showdown at Yarmouth. The Capers blew a 28-6 lead, but Boechenstein led a last-second drive which resulted in a field goal at the horn for a 31-28 victory.

Copy the Story Link